Tertiary xanthate flotation process



Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LU'DW'IG BOSENSTE'DT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO SELL DEVELOP- m'r some, or am FRANCISCO,

WARE

CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 01' DELA- TEBTIABY XANTEATE FLOTATION PROCESS Io Drawing.

My invention relates to the flotation of ores, more particularly to the use in the froth flotation of copper, zinc, lead and similar ores, or certain new reagents which increase the efiiciency of the flotation operation.

There have been used in the past a number of reagents, which, added in small amounts to a pulp in a flotation circuit, aided in and caused the floating of the mineral particles in a froth, which was then remored and the mineral recovered therefrom. Among such reagents was potasium ethyl xanthate. This reagent has been in extensive use and has been considered highly effective in the flotation of ores, and has been a standard of comparison for reagents.

Flotation efiects may be obtained by the use of other xanthates, specifically those of the tertiary xanthate type as denoted by the structural formula s R-o-c -s1u wherein R represents an organic radical containing a carbon atom bonded to the oxygen atom as well as to three other carbon atoms, and wherein M represents an alkali-metal.

The sodium and potassium salts of these xanthates are the ones most preferred and the salts of tertiary-butyl, tertiary-amyl and tertiary-hexyl xantbic acids. as well as the higher members of the tertiary-h drocarbon class may be employed with e ect 1n the flotation These new compounds may be prepared in any desired manner as, for example, by the procem described in my U. S. Patent 1,851,525

ased onmy copending application, Serial No. 406,513, filed November 11, 1929, of which this case is a continuation in part. The col- Application filed February 1, 1932. Serial No. 590,822.

the hydrogen-ion concentration of the liquid; the tendency of .the gangue materials to be carried along with the froth, etc. The quantity of collector to be introduced is at best dependent upon the specific operation and no (lelinite limits can be set down. The addition of .10 lb. or less of tertiary xanthates per ton of pulp should normally be suflicient. The tertiary xanthates may be used alone or together with other collectors, including the use of two or more tertiary xantha'tes.

In practice, the reagents are added almost automatically although frequent checks are made of the mineral content in the concentrate and the tailings as a guide to the amounts required. If, as is often necessary, a series of flotation machines is used, the different units may vary somewhat in the proportion of reagents added. This is especially true when two minerals are to be selectively separated from the gangue.

The degree offineness to which the ore is originally ground is very important, although in many instances discarded tailings from previous mining operations are ideally suited to reworln'ng by my flotation process.

The expression tertiary xanthic acid embraces compounds of the structural formula s n-o (f -s-H wherein R represents an organic radical containing a carbon atom which is bonded to the oxygen atom as well as to three other carbon atoms. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of recoveringminerals from I ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of a salt of a tertiary zanthic acid as a promoter.

2. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of an alkali-metal salt of a tertiary zanthic acid as a promoter.

3. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to a frothflotation operationin the presence of the sodium salt of a tertiary zanthic acid as a promoter.

A. method of recovering minerals ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to froth flotation operation in the presence of a compound of the structural formula om s CHa-dl-O-J-B-M wherein M represents an alkali-metal as a promoter.

5. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of the sodium salt of tertiary butyl xanthic acid as a promoter.

6. A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to a froth flotation operation in the presence of an alkali-metal salt of tertiary amyl xanthic acid as a promoter.

7 A method of recovering minerals from ores which comprises: subjecting an ore to afroth flotation operation in the presence of the sodium salt of tertiary amyl Xanthic acid as a promoter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LUDWIG ROSENSTEIN. 

